Pregnant Adolescents' Perspective on Pregnancy and Parenting

Dorothy Rentschler, PhD, Associate Professor, University of New Hampshire, School of Nursing, Durham, New Hampshire, USA, email: ddr@hopper.unh.edu

Abstract:

Purpose: Adolescent pregnancy has been examined from a variety of frameworks including: developmental, educational, and social. While the findings of these studies are useful there remains a gap in the literature addressing the issues of pregnancy and parenting from the pregnant adolescent's perspective. The purpose of this study was to conceptualize the processes used by adolescents to manage changes related to pregnancy and as preparation for parenting. Framework: Grounded theory methodology (Glaser and Strauss, 1967) provided the framework for this qualitative study. Design and sample: The purposive sampling comprised 20 pregnant 13 to 19 year old teens, who were in the second or third trimester of pregnancy and planning to keep their child. An in-depth taped interview of each participant was performed either in a private office in the school the teen was attending, or in the privacy of her home. Data was analyzed using the constant comparative method. Interviews were compared with each other to confirm/disconfirm emerging categories. This process continued until consistency and representativeness of concepts was reached and categories saturated. Findings and conclusions: The pregnant adolescents' perception of the changes related to pregnancy included both the expected and predictable, as well as, changes that seemed relevant to the developmental stage of the individual. The emerging concept "pregnant me-unexpected changes", included factors related to physical, emotional, and behavioral changes, as well as alterations in relationships and in goals/dreams. In particular, the teens described the changes as they related to the self-in-relation to the family, specifically the mother; the community, specifically, the school system and school friends; and to society, specifically the welfare of the unborn child. Managing the changes was directly related to the pregnant teen's perceived level of support from family, community and society. The concept "visioning mothering" emerged as the teen recognized the need to transform from a carefree teen to a responsible mother. In conclusion, nurses working with this vulnerable population need to focus on the multiple factors that put this group at risk first for pregnancy and secondly for the issues related to teen parenting.

Repository Posting Date:

27-Oct-2011

Date of Publication:

27-Oct-2011

Conference Date:

2001

Conference Name:

ENRS 13th Annual Scientific Sessions

Conference Host:

Eastern Nursing Research Society

Conference Location:

Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

Note:

This is an abstract-only submission. If the author has submitted a full-text item based on this abstract, you may find it by browsing the Virginia Henderson Global Nursing e-Repository by author. If author contact information is available in this abstract, please feel free to contact him or her with your queries regarding this submission. Alternatively, please contact the conference host, journal, or publisher (according to the circumstance) for further details regarding this item. If a citation is listed in this record, the item has been published and is available via open-access avenues or a journal/database subscription. Contact your library for assistance in obtaining the as-published article.

Full metadata record

DC Field

Value

Language

dc.type.category

Abstract

en_US

dc.type

Presentation

en_GB

dc.title

Pregnant Adolescents' Perspective on Pregnancy and Parenting

en_GB

dc.contributor.author

Rentschler, Dorothy

en_US

dc.author.details

Dorothy Rentschler, PhD, Associate Professor, University of New Hampshire, School of Nursing, Durham, New Hampshire, USA, email: ddr@hopper.unh.edu

en_US

dc.identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10755/163719

-

dc.description.abstract

Purpose: Adolescent pregnancy has been examined from a variety of frameworks including: developmental, educational, and social. While the findings of these studies are useful there remains a gap in the literature addressing the issues of pregnancy and parenting from the pregnant adolescent's perspective. The purpose of this study was to conceptualize the processes used by adolescents to manage changes related to pregnancy and as preparation for parenting. Framework: Grounded theory methodology (Glaser and Strauss, 1967) provided the framework for this qualitative study. Design and sample: The purposive sampling comprised 20 pregnant 13 to 19 year old teens, who were in the second or third trimester of pregnancy and planning to keep their child. An in-depth taped interview of each participant was performed either in a private office in the school the teen was attending, or in the privacy of her home. Data was analyzed using the constant comparative method. Interviews were compared with each other to confirm/disconfirm emerging categories. This process continued until consistency and representativeness of concepts was reached and categories saturated. Findings and conclusions: The pregnant adolescents' perception of the changes related to pregnancy included both the expected and predictable, as well as, changes that seemed relevant to the developmental stage of the individual. The emerging concept "pregnant me-unexpected changes", included factors related to physical, emotional, and behavioral changes, as well as alterations in relationships and in goals/dreams. In particular, the teens described the changes as they related to the self-in-relation to the family, specifically the mother; the community, specifically, the school system and school friends; and to society, specifically the welfare of the unborn child. Managing the changes was directly related to the pregnant teen's perceived level of support from family, community and society. The concept "visioning mothering" emerged as the teen recognized the need to transform from a carefree teen to a responsible mother. In conclusion, nurses working with this vulnerable population need to focus on the multiple factors that put this group at risk first for pregnancy and secondly for the issues related to teen parenting.

en_GB

dc.date.available

2011-10-27T11:12:37Z

-

dc.date.issued

2011-10-27

en_GB

dc.date.accessioned

2011-10-27T11:12:37Z

-

dc.conference.date

2001

en_US

dc.conference.name

ENRS 13th Annual Scientific Sessions

en_US

dc.conference.host

Eastern Nursing Research Society

en_US

dc.conference.location

Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

en_US

dc.description.note

This is an abstract-only submission. If the author has submitted a full-text item based on this abstract, you may find it by browsing the Virginia Henderson Global Nursing e-Repository by author. If author contact information is available in this abstract, please feel free to contact him or her with your queries regarding this submission. Alternatively, please contact the conference host, journal, or publisher (according to the circumstance) for further details regarding this item. If a citation is listed in this record, the item has been published and is available via open-access avenues or a journal/database subscription. Contact your library for assistance in obtaining the as-published article.

-

All Items in this repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.